I will caution folks again that people should not delude themselves, the clock has been ticking on the patience of the American people. Take away all the partisanship and spin, there is still deep down a frustration that “Win we stay-lose we stay”.

The President will get his wish to hand this war off to another administration. However the administration that we get in 2009 is going to be determined by American anger over Iraq.

It’s an almost attractive calumny, because it allows us to play Pontius Pilate when and if it all falls apart.

But history was as unkind to Pilate as it was to those he governed. And, in fact, those in whose name he governed.

I think the Iraqis are stepping up, albeit slower than we’d like. But we’ve burned them once after the first Desert Storm, so it isn’t surprising that they’d be reluctant to believe us this time.

We’re finally proving to be reliable partners in routing the bad guys, and they are finally getting fed up with them too, so cooperation is the new word for the day.

I just hope that all the talk in Washington about giving up doesn’t mess up the good work our troops are doing there and cause more doubt on our resolve to help and support them.

I fully expect to have troops there for the next decade, just as we have had to have troops based all over the world for various reasons. Not a good thing, not a bad thing — just a fact.

Il mondo è tornato ad essere un posto normale. Ricordate, qualche settimana fa, l’editoriale del New York Times (la password per leggerlo cercatela qui) che invocava il ritiro statunitense dall’Iraq? Il giorno dopo, giornali e telegiornali italiani …